Identifying Social Determinants and Measuring Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Use of Four Different Mental Health Services by Australian Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years: Results from a Nationwide Study.

aimIn this study, we aimed to identify the determinants of four different forms of mental health service usage (general health services, school counselling, telephone, and online services), and the number of mental health services accessed (single and multiple) by Australian adolescents aged 13-17 years. We also measured socioeconomic inequality in mental health services' usage following the concentration index approach within the same sample. SUBJECT AND

methodsThe data came from the nationwide cross-sectional survey, Young Minds Matter (YMM): the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Random effect models were used to identify the factors associated with four different mental health services and the number of services accessed. Further, the Erreygers' corrected concentration indices for binary variables were used to quantify the socioeconomic inequality in each mental health service. The four services were the general health service (GP, specialist, psychiatrist, psychologist, hospital including emergency), school services, telephone counselling and online services.

resultsOverall, 31.9% of the total analytical sample (

conclusionAdolescents from low-income families frequently used general mental health services and telephone services compared to those who belonged to high-income families. The study concluded that if we want to increase adolescents' usage of mental health services, we need to tailor our approaches to their socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, from a policy standpoint, a multi-sectoral strategy is needed to address the factors related to mental health services to reduce inequity in service utilisation.